Exploring the Impacts of Students’ Characteristics, Pedagogical Activities, and Course Structure on Personal Resonance and Practical Applications of Transformative Pedagogy

Sociology instructors are increasingly turning to transformative pedagogy as a tool to help students recognize and respond to social injustices. This is increasingly important amid growing political and institutional backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education. Yet the factors that shape the effectiveness of this approach remain underexplored. This study examines a large second-year university Sociology of Families course (N = 299) grounded in the concept of critical hope. We investigate how course structure, pedagogical strategies, and student characteristics influence two key outcomes: students’ personal resonance with the material and their reported motivation to enact social change. Findings indicate that both resonance and practical application of critical hope were positively associated with the use of 14 transformative pedagogical strategies and with longer course durations. Students with accessibility needs were less likely to find the content personally meaningful, and White-identifying students were less likely to express motivation for social action. We conclude by offering recommendations for increasing the inclusivity and impact of transformative pedagogy, particularly in a climate of rising resistance to DEI-focused education.